Animals

Diurnal and secretive. Shelters at night in hollow logs, ground debris, rocks, etc. They bask in the morning to raise their body temperature and maintain a temperature of about 30-35 degrees C. when active. During cold weather they remain buried deep in their shelter. Mating takes place in the spring. Gestation takes four months and 5-20 young are born live. Eggs do not develop a typical shell, and membranes enclosing the embryo interfold with the wall of the mothers oviduct to create a type of placenta, which helps to supply water and oxygen to the developing embryo. The young look after themselves right after birth and disperse within a few days. Life span in captivity is 18-20 years.